Spacer clip for holding insulation about a vessel



P. S. MONROE Nov. 3, 1964 SPACER CLIP FOR HOLDING INSULATION ABOUT AVESSEL Filed July 31. 1961 INVENIOR E 0 m M S w m United States Patent"Ce 3,154,889 SPACER CLIP FUR HOLDING INEUIIATION ABOUT A VESSEL Paul S.Monroe, Chatharn, N..I., assignor to Halcon Internationfi, Inc., acorporation of Delaware Filed July 31, 1961, Ser. No. 128,129 5 Claims.(Cl. 50-160) This invention relates to a new and improved spacer clip.More specifically, this invention relates to a spacer clip which may beutilized for holding insulation about heat exchangers, tanks, towers,pipes and like vessels.

I In many applications in the chemical process and other industries itis desirable to surround vessels with insulating material. Since thesematerials are often fragile and gen eraliy incapable of supportingthemselves, it is necessary to secure them to the vessels. One means ofaccomplishing this end is to surround the vessel with concentric sheetsof material, such as a sheet metal sheathing. The sheathing isapproprately spaced from the outer wall of the vessel. Located betweenthe sheathing and the outer wall is the insulation.

Securing insulation in this manner has in the past been difficult andcumbersome for the following reasons: firstly, it is difiicult tomaintain a uniform spacing between the vessel and the sheathing. Hence,the insulation is not of a uniform thickness. Secondly, since thesheathing cannot be conveniently handled if it is the full size of thevessel, it is necessary to join a series of sheets, one on top of theother, in order to surround the entire vessel. In the past, it requiredmuch labor and precision to properly align these sheets, and, inaddition much riveting was necessary to secure them together.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a means forconveniently securing the ends of a series of sheets together.

Another object of the instant invention is a clip for securing sheetmaterial comprising means for engaging a lower sheet and means forsupporting an upper sheet, said means being so adapted as to maintainsaid sheets in a substantially parallel plane.

Still another object of this invention is to secure sheets at a uniformdistance around a vessel.

Another object of the instant invention is an insulated vessel with atleast two partially overlapping sheets of sheathing around andconcentric to said vessel, a plurality of said clips, said clips beingadapted to engage the top edge of a first sheet of sheathing and thebottom edge of second sheet of sheathing and having projecting therefroma spacer bar adapted to maintain said sheathing a fixed distanceiromsaid vessel, and a belt adapted to engage said spacer clips and bringsid spacer bars into contact with said vessel.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following description.

In brief compass, the instant invention concerns a spac er clip which isprovided with means for receiving a first sheet and a second sheet andmaintaining the adjacent ends of saidsheets in substantially parallelplanes. Additionally, the spacer clip is provided with a substantiallyperpendicular extension, referred to as a spacer bar herein, adapted toengage the vessel at a uniform distance from said plates. Preferably,the spacer clips are provided with a loop or slot capable of receiving abelt or the like for holding the spacer bar firmly against the vessel.

To more fully describe the instant invention, attention is directed tothe attached figures.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the spacer clip.

3,154,83fi Patented Nov. 3, 1964 FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional viewshowing the spacer clip as part of an insulated vessel.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a top view of a series of spacer clips as they areemployed about a vessel.

FIGURE 4 shows the use of the spacer clip to join the edges of a singlepiece of sheathing.

Turning now to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the spacer clip iscomposed of a first rigid member 1, a central rigid member 2 and a thirdrigid member 3. These members are substantially parallel. The firstrigid member 1 is integrally joined to the central member 2 at their topedges, thereby forming a slot indicated by the numeral 4. Similarly, thethird rigid member 3 is integrally joined to the central member 2 attheir bottom edge, thereby forming a second slot indicated by thenumeral 5. The upper end of the third rigid member 3 is bent outwardlyto facilitate the insertion of the sheathing. A spacer bar 6 extendsperpendicularly from the first rigid member 1 and is integrally joinedto the bottom edge of the latter. The far end of the spacer bar 6 may bebent upward to form a right or acute angle to add strength to the spacerbar and facilitate its insertion. It will be understood that the rigidmembers 1,2 and 3 and the spacer bar 6 may be readily formed from onecontinuous sheet which is merely bent into the appropriateconfiguration. This in fact is the preferred mode of construction of thespacer clip. In addition, to those elements described, a hole 7 may beprovided in the central member 2 and the first member 1'to receive arivet. The loop or slot 8 in the third rigid member 3 is also providedto receive a belt as hereinafter described. Preferably, the slot 8 is atright angles to the spacer bar 6, and located so that a projection ofthe spacer bar would pass approximately through the slots horizontalcenter.- This configuration minimizes the tendency of the clip to pivotabout the spacer bar.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a cross-sectionof the spacer clip as it is actuallyused in insulating a vessel 10. A sheet 12 secured at its bottom portiona fixed distance from the vessel 10 is passed into the slot '4 formed bythe rigid members 1 and 2. A rivet 13 through hole 7 secures the sheet12 to the spacer clip. Spacer bar 6 maintains the top portion of thesheet 12 a fixed distance from the vessel 10. A second sheet 11 is shownin the slot 5 which is formed by the walls of the rigid members 2 and 3.This sheet 12 may merely rest in the slot under the force of gravity, orif desired, fastened to the spacer clip in a like manner to that ofsheet 12. The slot or loop 8 receives a belt 14 (shown in FIGURE 3)which exerts a force in the direction of the vessel 10, thereby securingthe spacer bar 6 against the vessel.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of a vessel 10, surrounded by a steelsheathing, employing a plurality of the spacer clips of the instantinvention. The spacer clips are indicated by the numerals 20 andmaintain the sheathing at a uniform distance from the vessel 10 by meansof a spacer bar 6. In order to hold the spacer bars in secure contactwith the vessel 10, a belt 14 is passed through the loop or slots 8 ofeach of the spacer clips. The belt is drawn tight and fastened by abuckle or other convenient means indicated by the numeral 15. The spacedefined by the outer wall of the vessel 10 and the inner wall of thesheathing 11 contains a suitable insulating material (not shown).

While in the illustration the spacer clip is utilized to stack thesheathing, it may also be employed to join each section of sheathing atits edges so as to maintain it in a continuous cylindricalconfiguration. This application of the spacer clip is illustrated inFIGURE 4.

While the spacer clip has been described to secure sheathing around acylindrical vessel, the invention should not be so limited. For example,the spacer clip may be employed to join portions of the sheathing to aflat wall. The only modification necessary is that the belt be securedto the ends of the walls so as to hold the spacer bars rigidly againstthe vessel. In addition, the clip may be advantageously employed forinsulating an irregular vessel.

It is preferred that the spacer clip be formed from a flat continuoussheet of metal. The metal is first cut to the overall dimensionsrequired and stamped to form the slot or loop 8 for receiving the belt.Additional holes may be drilled for receiving rivets where required. Thecontinuous sheet is bent on each of a first, second and third line, saidlines being substantially parallel, said sheet comprising a frontportion defined by the top edge of said sheet and the first line, acentral portion defined by said first and second lines, a rear portiondefined by said second and third lines, and a spacer portion defined bysaid third line and the bottom edge of said sheet. The said first andsecond bends are approximately 180 in opposite directions so as to bringsaid front, central and rear portions into substantially parallelrelation and said third bend is approximately 90 so as to position saidspacer portion substantially perpendicular to and away from said front,central and rear portions. The front, central, rear and spacer portionsdefined above correspond to the numerals 3, 2, 1 and 6, respectively,shown in FIGURES 1' and 2.

While the spacer bar is described as substantially perpendicular to thespacer clip, equivalent constructions can be readily employed. Forexample, the spacer bar may form an acute or obtuse angleit beingessential only that it provide a means to maintain the clip apredetermined distance from the vessel.

Furthermore, the spacer bar may be employed as a right angle flange. Inthis adaptation, the spacer bar is directed away from the vessel andperpendicular sheets are riveted or welded thereto. This embodiment isemployed where it is desirable to cover projections from the vessel,such as pipes or manholes.

In'insulating a vessel in accordance with this invention it ispreferable to insert the belt through the slots in the spacer clip priorto joining the clips to the sheet material. In previous constructions,it is necessary to insert the belt after the sheathing is erected aroundthe vessels. This procedure made the threading of the belt extremelydiificult and time consuming.

A wide variety of materials may be used for the cononly and should notbe taken as definitive.

I claim:

1. A spacer clip for joining plates in a partially overlappingrelationship which comprises: a first, a central and a third rigidmember in substantially parallel overlying relation, said third memberhaving a loop adapted to receive a belt, the top edge of said firstmember being integrally joined to the top edge of said central member,whereby a slot is formed between said members, and the bottom edge ofsaid third member being integrally joined to the bottom edge ofsaidcentral member whereby another slot is formed between said lastnamed members; a spacer bar joined integrally and perpendicularly to thebottom edge of said first member and projecting in a direction oppositefrom said central member.

2. The spacer clip of claim 1 wherein said clip is fabricated from asingle sheet of material.

3. The spacer clip of claim 2 wherein said material is sheet metal.

4. An insulated vessel which comprises: a vessel, at least two partiallyoverlapping sheets of sheathing around and concentric to said vessel, aplurality of spacer clips, said clips being adapted to engage the topedge of a first sheet of sheathing and. the bottom edge of a secondsheet of sheathing, and having projecting therefrom a spacer bar adaptedto maintain said sheathing a fixed distance from said vessel, and a beltadapted to engage said spacer clips and bring said spacer bars intocontact with said vessel.

5. The vessel of claim 4 wherein insulating material is located betweenthe outer wall of said vessel and said sheathing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED srArEs PArENrs1,585,897 Davidson May 25, 1 926 FOREIGN PATENTS 350,140 Italy July 6,1937

4. AN INSULATED VESSEL WHICH COMPRISES: A VESSEL, AT LEAST TWO PARTIALLYOVERLAPPING SHEETS OF SHEATHING AROUND AND CONCENTRIC TO SAID VESSEL, APLURALITY OF SPACER CLIPS, SAID CLIPS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE TOPEDGE OF A FIRST SHEET OF SHEATHING AND THE BOTTOM EDGE OF A SECOND SHEETOF SHEATHING, AND HAVING PROJECTING THEREFROM A SPACER BAR ADAPTED TOMAINTAIN SAID SHEATHING A FIXED DISTANCE FROM SAID VESSEL, AND A BELTADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SPACER CLIPS AND BRING SAID SPACER BARS INTOCONTACT WITH SAID VESSEL.